AN AVENUES church project has had a helping hand of £1,000 to keep providing aid to struggling migrants.
The High Sheriffs' and Humberside Police Tribune Trust donated the grant to the Open Doors scheme, which supports refugees and migrant workers.
Bashir Siraj, 45, project worker at Open Doors, says the increase in the number of people who need help means grants are vital.
He said: "There are people struggling to put food on the table, they might not have a job or be on low income.
"Every penny donated by a member of the public or organisation makes a difference."
Bashir started working with the Open Doors project four years ago, after coming to Hull from Pakistan in 2000.
The project runs a drop-in service every Thursday at Princes Avenue Methodist Church.
The volunteers provide lunch, food parcels and a warm, safe place to socialise for about 130 people each week.
Director of the Tribune Trust, Geoff Ogden, says the project is helping to support the influx of migrants in the area, many of whom are "sofa-surfing" or homeless.
Mr Ogden said: "So many of these people can become victims, and do become victims, or end up in low-level crime.
"On a Thursday, the church hall is full of people and the place is alive and buzzing."
The trust works with projects that reduce crime and improve community safety.
The support network relies on cash and food donations but the grant will be spent on training the 40 volunteers who help.
The service also runs basic English classes and counselling and British Red Cross offers advice on asylum cases and benefits.
Training courses will be in place to help build volunteers' confidence and teach them how to deal with victims of domestic abuse and safeguarding children.
Mr Siraj said: "Volunteers are the only reason the project is surviving.
"They give up their free time so, hopefully, we can give something back to them."
He has experienced first- hand how hard it can be to adapt to a new country.
"Some are living in isolation and struggling to integrate themselves into society," he said.
"Especially when you don't have family, friends or a network, and you don't have a job."
Mr Siraj says refugees and migrant workers need to put in the effort to become part of a community.
He said: "We cannot make a difference without effort on our part."
